Image forming apparatus including drawer for supporting drum cartridge and developing cartridge

Abstract

In accordance with aspects of the disclosed subject matter, an image forming apparatus can include a main body housing having a space inside. The main body housing can include a front wall having an opening, and a rear wall, the front wall and the rear wall defining a space therebetween. A drum cartridge can include a photosensitive drum, and a developing cartridge can include a developing roller. A drawer can be provided for supporting the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge, the drawer being movable between an inner position where the drawer is accommodated inside the space and an outer position where at least a part of the drawer is drawn out of the space through the opening. A transfer roller can be located nearer to the rear wall than the developing roller locates when the drawer supporting the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge is at the inner position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
 a main body housing having a space inside, the main body housing comprising:
 a front wall having an opening; and 
 a rear wall, the front wall and the rear wall defining a space therebetween; 
 
 a drum cartridge comprising a photosensitive drum; 
 a developing cartridge comprising a developing roller; 
 a drawer for supporting the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge, the drawer being movable between an inner position where the drawer is accommodated inside the space and an outer position where at least a part of the drawer is drawn out of the space through the opening; and 
 a transfer roller located nearer to the rear wall than the developing roller locates when the drawer supporting the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge is at the inner position. 
 
     
     
       2. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the drum cartridge includes a drum handle located above the developing cartridge. 
 
     
     
       3. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the drawer includes a handle support part located on an inner surface of the drawer. 
 
     
     
       4. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the developing cartridge includes a developing handle attached to an upper surface of the developing cartridge. 
 
     
     
       5. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the developing handle is located outside of the main body housing when the drawer supporting the developing cartridge is at the outer position. 
 
     
     
       6. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the drum cartridge includes a drum handle, 
 wherein the developing cartridge includes a developing handle, and 
 wherein the developing handle is located between the drum handle and the front wall of the main body when the drawer supports the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge. 
 
     
     
       7. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the drawer has a drawer-opening, and 
 wherein the transfer roller contacts to the photosensitive drum through the drawer-opening when the drawer supporting the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge is at the inner position. 
 
     
     
       8. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein, when the developing cartridge is detached from a second supporting position on the drawer, the drum cartridge is detachable from a first supporting position on the drawer, and 
 wherein the developing cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the drawer while the drum cartridge is attached to the drawer. 
 
     
     
       9. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the drawer includes a first guide, 
 wherein the drum cartridge includes a second guide, and 
 wherein the first guide of the drawer and the second guide of the drum cartridge forms a developing cartridge guide configured to guide the developing cartridge toward the second supporting position on the drawer when the drawer supports the drum cartridge. 
 
     
     
       10. An image forming apparatus comprising:
 a main body housing having a space inside, the main body housing comprising:
 a front wall having an opening; and 
 a rear wall, the front wall and the rear wall defining a space therebetween; 
 
 a drum cartridge comprising a photosensitive drum and a drum handle; 
 a developing cartridge comprising a developing roller and a developing handle; and 
 a drawer for supporting the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge, the drawer being movable between an inner position where the drawer is accommodated inside the space and an outer position where at least a part of the drawer is drawn out of the space through the opening, 
 wherein the developing handle is located between the drum handle and the front wall of the main body when the drawer supports the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge. 
 
     
     
       11. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein the drum handle of the drum cartridge is located above the developing cartridge when the drawer supports the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge. 
 
     
     
       12. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the drawer includes a handle support part located on an inner surface of the drawer. 
 
     
     
       13. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein the developing handle of the developing cartridge is attached to an upper surface of the developing cartridge. 
 
     
     
       14. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein the developing handle of the developing cartridge is located outside of the main body when the drawer is at the outer position. 
 
     
     
       15. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising a transfer roller,
 wherein the drawer has a drawer-opening, and 
 wherein the transfer roller contacts to the photosensitive drum through the drawer-opening when the drawer supporting the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge is at the inner position. 
 
     
     
       16. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein, when the developing cartridge is detached from a second supporting position, the drum cartridge is detachable from a first supporting position, and 
 wherein the developing cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the second supporting position while the drum cartridge is attached to the first supporting position. 
 
     
     
       17. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the drawer includes a first guide, 
 wherein the drum cartridge includes a second guide, and 
 wherein the first guide of the drawer and the second guide of the drum cartridge forms a developing cartridge guide configured to guide the developing cartridge toward the second supporting position on the drawer when the drawer supports the drum cartridge. 
 
     
     
       18. An image forming apparatus comprising:
 a main body housing having a space inside, the main body housing comprising:
 a front wall having an opening; and 
 a rear wall spaced apart from the front wall in a direction, the front wall and the rear wall defining a space therebetween; 
 
 a drum cartridge comprising a photosensitive drum; 
 a developing cartridge comprising a developing roller; 
 a drawer for supporting the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge, the drawer being movable between an inner position where the drawer is accommodated inside the space and an outer position where at least a part of the drawer is drawn out of the space thorough the opening along the direction; and 
 a transfer roller located nearer to the rear wall than the photosensitive drum locates in the direction when the drawer supporting the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge is at the inner position.